Achaemenid Bronze Phiale Mesomphalos

Pillow-shaped fragment with cuneiform text to both broad faces. 35.3 grams, 42 mm



Specialised collection of cuneiform texts, the property of a London gentleman and housed in London before 1992. Thence by descent to family members. Examined by Professor Wilfrid George Lambert FBA (1926-2011), historian, archaeologist, and specialist in Assyriology and Near Eastern archaeology, in the late 1980s and early 1990s. This small collection is exceptional for the variety of types, including some very rare and well preserved examples. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Squat in profile with narrow basal ring, broad mouth; shoulder with band of ornamental Kufic calligraphic text with silver inlay on a field of leaves and tendrils, reading: 'al-'izz wa'l-iqbal wa'l-dawla wa'l-salama wa'l-sa'ada wa'l-nima wa'l-'afiya wa wa'l-shukra wa'l-shakir[a] wa'l-nusra wa'l-nasirawa'l-'inaya wa'l-baqa da'iman' (Glory and prosperity and wealth and well-being and happiness and divine grace and health and gratitude and gratefulness and victory and favour and long life, perpetually); two strips of silver inlay to the edges of the median band; knotwork arcading below with silver inlay to the weave and pendants. 82 grams, 10 cm wide



with a London, UK gallery 1971-early 2000s. Private collection, London, UK. This lot has been checked against the Interpol Database of stolen works of art and is accompanied by a search certificate number no.12545-231976. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.

Piriform in profile with narrow flat base, flared mouth and single loop handle. 283 grams, 21.4 cm



From a London, UK, gentleman's collection of ancient pottery and artefacts, 1990s. This lot has been cleared against the Art Loss Register database, and is accompanied by an illustrated lot declaration signed by the Head of the Antiquities Department, Dr Raffaele D'Amato.